Vienna to Bratislava: Complete Transfer Guide by Train, Bus & Boat

Which train goes from Vienna to Bratislava?

Two regional lines leave Wien Hauptbahnhof for Bratislava, each roughly once an hour. The REX8 runs via Marchegg to the main station, and the REX6 runs via Bruck an der Leitha and Kittsee to Bratislava-Petržalka.

In the ÖBB timetables valid in autumn 2026, the REX8 takes about 56 minutes and the REX6 about 59 minutes. Because the two lines leave at different minutes past the hour, you rarely wait long for one of them.

From the timetable change on 13 December 2026, VOR says an extra REX8 train pair creates a continuous hourly service between Vienna and Bratislava hlavná stanica from 5:00 to midnight.

These are regional trains: ÖBB asks passengers to board with a valid ticket. The ÖBB Bratislava-Ticket also covers public transport in Bratislava on its first day of validity.

Which Bratislava station should I arrive at?

For most visitors, Bratislava hlavná stanica (REX8) is the more practical arrival point, as it is on the same side of the Danube as the Old Town. Bratislava-Petržalka (REX6) is south of the river, so you will usually need a bus or taxi to cross into the centre.

Both stations connect to the city bus and tram network. Lines and stops change with roadworks, so check the current connection in a Bratislava journey planner before you travel.

Look at the destination on the departure board in Vienna, not just the word "Bratislava": the two lines end at different stations.

Are there engineering works on the Vienna–Bratislava trains?

Construction work on these lines periodically replaces some trains with buses, and the Marchegg route was closed for long periods in 2024 and 2025. When this guide was checked, no closure on either line was announced for November 2026.

When one route is closed, the other usually keeps running, and ÖBB has previously accepted tickets on both routes during closures. Check the ÖBB journey planner for your date shortly before you travel.

Is the bus a good alternative to the train?

Yes. Buses are cheap, frequent and take from about 55 minutes, but road traffic can make them slower than the train.

FlixBus lists Vienna stops including Erdberg (Busterminal VIB) and the Hauptbahnhof area, and Bratislava stops including the Mlynské Nivy bus station and Most SNP, at the bridge by the Old Town. Check which stops your departure serves when you book.

Slovak Lines also runs a Vienna Airport Express to Bratislava. If you land at Vienna Airport, compare it with the train via Vienna.

When does the Twin City Liner boat run?

The 2026 main season runs from 1 May to 2 November, with up to three departures a day in each direction. Advent cruises run on Fridays, weekends and Austrian public holidays from 27 November to 20 December.

Boats leave Vienna from the Schwedenplatz pier at Franz-Josefs-Kai 2 and arrive at the HUMA 6 pontoon on Rázusovo nábrežie, on the Old Town riverside. The timetable shows about 1 hour 15 minutes downstream to Bratislava and about 1 hour 30 minutes back upstream.

Between the end of the main season and the Advent cruises, the 2026 timetable lists no regular sailings. The operator sometimes moves departures to another Vienna pier, so check its news page before you go.

A valid passport or national ID card is required on board, and hand luggage up to 9 kg is included. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure.

Do I need a passport between Vienna and Bratislava?

Yes, carry a passport or national ID card. Austria and Slovakia are both in the Schengen area, but Austria has notified temporary internal border controls at its land and river borders with Slovakia from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027.

Temporary controls can mean spot checks on trains, buses and boats. Non-EU travellers should also check their own entry requirements.

Vienna to Bratislava: frequently asked questions